Kafue support passes the thousand mark

In June this year, World Rowing in partnership with WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature, launched a project to build a centre for water research and rowing in Zambia, Africa. The groundswell of support from the rowing community has been tremendous. More than 1000 rowers from around the world have contributed to the project.

“We are thrilled at the level of support and interest from the rowing community right from the start of our joint Kafue project,” says WWF Director of Corporate Relations Jochem Verberne. “To be able to reach this level of donors and donations in such a short period is testament to how strong and supportive the rowing community is. Together we can show that the Kafue project, which is part of the wider WWF-World Rowing partnership, can be a leading example of how conservation and sport really can be partners for change. Beyond the many individual contributions, I look forward to seeing rowing clubs and event organisers coming together to support the project in the coming months,”

The rowing community has embraced the project as its own. Double Olympic Champion Andrew Triggs Hodge, as a project ambassador says, “I’ve studied water, I’ve had the pleasure to row on it for 17 years now and I know how important and how delicate it is. We still have a lot to understand about how to treat, manage and conserve it for everyone’s benefit. The keystone project between World Rowing and WWF is a huge opportunity to help advance this field and help secure water for billions of people, for generations to come. It is very exciting to see World Rowing at the centre of this and making the developments happen on the ground.”

The fundraising efforts continue as World Rowing moves into its ‘off-season.’ The efforts will be driven through local rowing clubs and event organisers. At this weekend’s Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, USA, donations will be accepted at the Regatta Sport stand in the Rowing and Fitness Expo. For every donation of US$10 or more, you will receive a free World Rowing reusable water bottle.

This project is a unique opportunity for rowers to help ensure the lifeblood of the sport, water, remains available for all to use. World Rowing calls on all rowers, former and current, to ensure the Kafue River & Rowing Centre can be built, equipped and sustainably operated so that it can achieve its objectives for water research and rowing. Your support is critical.

For more information, or to make a donation, click here. 

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